USCIS Urge FilAm Vets to Apply for FWVP

CARSON, Ca —- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) urges FilAm veterans or their spouse to apply for parole under the Filipino WWII Veterans Parole (FWVP) program.

Stephanie Kwan and Allison Kent, USCIS staff members made the appeal as they explained to the Filipino American community members and Filipino American WWII veterans the details of the recently approved Filipino WWII Veterans Parole (FWVP) program last July13 at the Veterans Park Sports Complex.

Kwan said that the WWII Filipino veterans or the surviving spouse who reside in the U.S can request for their immediate family members as well as work in the United States before their immigrant visas become available.

Approved beneficiaries will enter the country temporarily and be able to apply for permanent resident (green card holder) status.

Kwan explained further that the principal beneficiaries are the spouses, son, daughter, brother or sister of the FilAm veterans the spouse and unmarried children under age 21 of the principal beneficiaries can also be beneficiaries.

Kent on the other hand clarified that the FWVP is being implemented as part of the humanitarian program of the US government so that family members can be reunited and support WWII Filipino American veterans who need care.

She added that if the Filipino WWII veterans and the spouses are both deceased, certain beneficiaries will be allowed to seek parole on their behalf as qualified self petitioners.

“The self petitioners must establish that: he or she is the son, daughter, brother or sister of the deceased Filipino WWII veterans and the legally recognized relationship existed on or before May 9, 2016; the deceased Filipino veteran had qualifying WWII military service and was living in the U.S. at the time of death; and the Filipino veteran’s spouse is also deceased.

Beneficiaries who are paroled under the program are eligible to apply for work authorization. Petitioners are encouraged to consult an immigration lawyer.

Tiffany Panlilio who represented the Asian Americans Advancing Justice said that the veterans can contact their agency for immigration assistance by calling 888-349-9695 or the Tagalog hotline (885) 380-2552 or email immrelief@advancingjustice-la.org.

Carson Councilman Elito Santarina expressed his gratitude to the USCIS for informing the Filipino community about the FWVP program.

“Under this humanitarian program, qualified beneficiaries can come to the U.S. and be reunited with their families. Many veterans are old now and need assistance,” Santarina pointed out.

Those who need more information about the FWVP can check the website uscis.gov/FWVP.

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